Town square vision

A new community group has formed to ensure ongoing public ownership and continuing community use of the old Kyneton Primary School and its integration into a town square.

The Kyneton Town Square Reference Group wants to secure the old Kyneton Primary School site for community use and integrate into a town square, after the school moves to its new site later this year.

A new community group has formed to ensure ongoing public ownership and continuing community use of the old Kyneton Primary School and its integration into a town square.

The Kyneton Town Square Reference Group's vision incorporates the Mechanics Institute and its facilities, an enlarged library, all of the primary school buildings and the surrounding grounds.

Group member Alan Moor said an important aspect of this was the preservation of the unique historic blue stone school buildings, together with the recycling of the 1980s brick extension - two thirds of the complex - into a dynamic community facility.

"The buildings could provide spaces for art and craft studios, classrooms, meeting rooms, catering facilities, exhibition spaces and a small business incubator, all in a central township location," Mr Moor said.

"This co-location will promote interaction and sharing between community groups and individuals, currently operating from isolated premises."

The group believes the school grounds present opportunities for a community garden and a park with play areas for children, and a car park would be an essential inclusion.

The reference group noted Macedon Ranges Shire Council's provision of $10,000 in its draft budget as seed funding, to attract state and federal grants, for a comprehensive consultancy, to assess and report on the old primary school and the potential for an integrated town square development.

Residents and group representatives are welcome to join the group to put forward their thoughts and ideas for ongoing community use of the old primary school buildings and the vision for a town square.

The next meeting will be held at the Kyneton Community Learning Centre, 34 Mollison Street, at 7pm next Thursday, June 29. All welcome.

(Note: The date of the meeting has been changed from Wednesday night to Thursday night to avoid a clash with Cobaw Community Health's planned community meeting next Wednesday).